Method of making stable color photographic prints

Abstract

A method of making a photographic color print using a photographic color material containing low levels of silver halide characterized in that, (a) after image formation and washing and/or stop bath treatment and (b) before non-uniform exposure to adventitious light, the print is uniformly exposed to a light source so that undeveloped silver halide is caused to print out uniformly. Such a uniform density is much more acceptable than a non-uniform density caused by uneven light in normal conditions.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method of making a photographic colour print using a photographic colour material containing low levels of silver halide, comprising: forming an image on the photographic colour material;   washing the photographic colour material and/or treating the photographic colour material in a stop bath after said forming of said image;   uniformly exposing the photographic colour material to a light source after said washing and/or said treating, whereby undeveloped silver halide in said photographic colour material prints out uniformly; and   non-uniformly exposing the photographic colour material to adventitious light.   
     
     
       2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said uniformly exposing is carried out before said photographic colour material is delivered to a customer. 
     
     
       3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said light source is an incandescent lamp, a fluorescent lamp, an arc lamp, a mercury lamp, an electronic flash, or the sun. 
     
     
       4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said uniformly exposing is carried out for a period of from 0.1 to 500 seconds. 
     
     
       5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said forming of said image comprises a redox amplification process. 
     
     
       6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the photographic colour material subjected to said uniformly exposing is an unbleached, unfixed photographic colour material. 
     
     
       7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said photographic colour material comprises silver halide at a total coating weight of from 0.1 to 80 mg/m 2  as silver. 
     
     
       8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said photographic colour material comprises silver halide at a total coating weight of from 0.1 to 20 mg/m 2  as silver. 
     
     
       9. A method according to claim 7, wherein said photographic colour material comprises silver halide at a total coating weight of from 0.1 to 3 mg/m 2  as silver. 
     
     
       10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said photographic colour material comprises silver halide containing at least 80% silver chloride. 
     
     
       11. A method according to claim 1, wherein said photographic colour material comprises silver halide containing at least 90% silver chloride.